President Richard Nixon Resigned 40 Years Ago Today ... Where were you when it happened?
President Richard Nixon Resigned 40 Years Ago Today
-
-
40 years ago today, on August 9th, 1974, President Richard M. Nixon, who was facing imminent Congressional impeachment on charges of obstruction of justice for not complying with a U.S. Supreme Court order, resigned at noon.
During his speech to the American people the day before, broadcast on all three networks, and including NewsChannel9 here in Chattanooga, Nixon said his resignation would begin "that process of healing which is so desperately needed in America."
This came after months of scandal and intrigue that began with a break-in at the Watergate hotel back in June of 1972. Connections of the burglars to low-level officials inside Nixon's 1972 re-election campaign revealed additional connections, that eventually led to President Nixon's senior staff.
During the investigation it was revealed that the Nixon administration had established a clandestine recording system throughout the White House for the majority of his term. The U.S. Justice Department appointed a special prosecutor Archibald to investigate the case. When Cox issued a subpoena to President Nixon, asking for copies of taped conversations recorded in the Oval Office and authorized by Nixon as evidence, the president initially refused to comply. On Saturday, October 19, 1973, Nixon ordered that Attorney General Elliot Richardson to fire Cox. Richardson refused, and resigned in protest. Nixon then ordered Deputy Attorney General William Ruckelshaus to fire Cox. He also refused and resigned. Nixon then ordered the Solicitor General, Robert Bork (as acting head of the Justice Department) to fire Cox. A federal district judge later ruled that Nixon's actions were illegal.
Congress was infuriated by the act, which was seen as a gross abuse of presidential power. Members of Nixon's own Republican party, including the recently-deceased Tennessee Senator Howard Baker, were demanding that the President come clean with the American people. The public sent in an unusually large number of telegrams to both the White House and Congress.
The scandal grew so that in August of 1974, realizing he would not have support from many in his own party in Congress on the impeachment question, Nixon decided to resign.
"I would've preferred to carry through to the finish, whatever the personal agony it would've involved," he said.
After giving his resignation address to the American people, Nixon gave an emotional 20-minute farewell speech to his White House staff.
In conclusion, he told them, "always remember: others may hate you. But those who hate you don't win -- unless you hate them. And then, you destroy yourself."
He then left the White House, to a helicopter on the White House lawn. Right before getting in, he turned, waved to the crowd, raised his arms, -- both hands displaying his signature V for Victory sign -- and smiled. then he turned around, got in the helicopter, and began his post-presidency.
Minutes later, Nixon's Vice President, Gerald Ford took the oath of office as Commander-in-Chief.
Watch President Nixon's full television resignation address here (this clip includes the minutes leading up to the live broadcast, in which Nixon can be seen smiling and joking with his staff.
Watch Nixon emotionally address his White House staff and their families here.
Feel free to share in the comments below what you remember about Watergate, and whether you watched Nixon's resignation address, 40 years ago today.